Thank you Takealot for stopping alcohol sales

I would like to commend Takealot for very good service over the years we have bought from them. However, today I must say a BIG THANK YOU to Takealot for stopping the sale of alcohol. I read this today in My Broadband new report. It shows that they are not greedy for money like the other greedy businesses. ALCOHOL Alcohol has been the scourge of human society since time immemorial. It continues to kill countless human lives, and causes terrible misery to millions throughout the world. Alcohol is the root cause of enormous problems facing society. The statistics of soaring crime rates, increasing instances of mental illnesses, and millions of broken homes throughout the world bear testimony to the destructive power of alcohol. 1. Prohibition of alcohol in the Qur’ân The Glorious Qur’ân prohibits the consumption of alcohol “O Ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination – of satan’s handiwork; eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.” Chapter 5- verse 90 2. Alcohol inhibits the inhibitory centre All human beings possess an inhibitory centre in their brains. This inhibitory centre prevents the person from doing things that he considers wrong. For instance, a person does not normally use abusive language while addressing his parents or elders. If he has to answer the call of nature, his inhibitory centre will prevent him from doing so in public, and therefore he uses the toilet. When a person consumes alcohol, the inhibitory centre itself is inhibited. That is precisely the reason that a drunken person is often found to be indulging in behaviour that is completely uncharacteristic of him. For instance, the intoxicated person is found to use abusive and foul language and does not realize his mistake even if he is addressing his parents. Many even urinate and defecate in their clothes when drunk. 3. Cases of adultery, ****, incest and AIDS are found more among alcoholics According to the National Crime Victimization Survey Bureau of Justice (U.S. Department of Justice) in the year 1996 alone, everyday an average 2, 713 ****s took place in America. The statistics prove that the majority of the ******s were intoxicated while committing the crime. According to statistics, 8% of Americans commit incest i.e. one in every twelve to thirteen persons in America is involved in incest. Almost all the cases of incest are due to intoxication of one or both the persons involved. One of the major factors associated with alcoholism is the spread of AIDS, the most dreaded disease of this century. 4. Every alcoholic was initially a social drinker Many may argue in favour of liquor by calling themselves ‘social drinkers’. They claim that they only have one or two drinks and they have self-control and so never get intoxicated. Investigations reveal that every alcoholic started as a social drinker. Not a single drunkard initially starts drinking with the intention of becoming a drunkard. No social drinker can say that I have been having alcohol for several years and that I have so much self-control that I have never been intoxicated even a single time. 5. If a person is intoxicated just once and commits something shameful, it will remain with him for a lifetime. Suppose a ‘social drinker’ loses his self-control just once and in a state of intoxication he commits **** or incest. Even if the act is later regretted, a normal human being is likely to carry the guilt throughout his life. Both the perpetrator and the victim are irreparably and irreversibly damaged. 6. Some of the Diseases associated with alcoholism There are dozens of scientific reasons for the prohibition of consumption of intoxicants (alcohol). The maximum number of deaths in the world related to any one particular cause is due to the consumption of alcohol. Millions of people die every year only because of drinking alcohol. I need not go into the details of all the ill effects of alcohol since most of them are commonly known. Below is a list of just a few of the alcohol related illnesses: 1. Cirrhosis of Liver is the most common and well-known alcohol associated disease. Damage to the liver is irreversible. 2. Others are Cancer of Oesophagus, Cancer of Head and Neck, Cancer of Liver (Hepatoma), Cancer of Bowel, etc. 3. Oesophagitis, Gastritis, Pancreatitis and Hepatitis are linked with alcohol consumption. 4. Cardiomyopathy, Hypertension, Coronary Artherosclerosis, Angina and Heart Attacks are linked with heavy alcohol intakes. 5. Strokes, (even with moderate intake of alcohol) Apoplexy, Fits and different types of Paralysis are linked with alcohol intake. 6. Peripheral Neuropathy, Cortical Atrophy, Cerebellar Atrophy are well-known syndromes caused by alcohol consumption. 7. Wernicke – Korsakoff syndrome with amnesia of recent events, confabulations and retainment of memory to old events with different types of paralysis are mainly due to thiamine deficiency due to excessive alcohol intake. 8. Beriberi and other deficiencies are not uncommon among alcoholics. Even Pellagra occurs in alcoholics. 9. Delerium Tremens is a serious complication that may occur during recurrent infection of alcoholics or post operatively. It also occurs during abstention as a sign of withdrawal effect. It is quite serious and may cause death even if treated in well-equipped centres. 10. Numerous Endocrine Disorders have been associated with alcoholism ranging from Myxodema to Hyperthyroidism and Florid Cushing Syndrome. 11. Hematological ill effects are long and variable. Folic acid deficiency, however, is the most common manifestation of alcoholic abuse resulting in Macrocytic Anemia. Zeive’s syndrome is a triad of Hemolytic Anemia, Jaundice and Hyperlipaedemia that follows alcoholic binges. 12. Thrombocytopenia and other platelet abnormalities are not rare in alcoholics. 13. The commonly used tablet metronidazole (flagyl) interacts badly with alcohol. 14. Recurrent infection is very common among chronic alcoholics. The resistance to disease and the immunological defence system are compromised by alcohol intake. 15. Chest infections are notorious in alcoholics. Pneumonia, Lung Abscess, Emphysema and Pulmonary Tuberculosis are all common in alcoholics. 16. During acute alcoholic intoxication, the drunken person usually vomits; the cough reflexes that are protective are paralyzed. The vomitus thus easily passes to the lung causing Pneumonia or Lung Abscess. Occasionally it may even cause suffocation and death. 17. The ill effects of alcohol consumption on women deserve special mention. Females are more vulnerable to alcohol-related Cirrhosis than men. During pregnancy alcohol consumption has a severe detrimental effect on the foetus. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is being recognised more and more in the medical profession. 18. Skin diseases are also related to alcohol indulgence. 19. Eczema, Alopecia, Nail Dystrophy, Paronychia (infection around the nails) and Angular Stomatitis (inflammation of the angle of the mouth) are common diseases among alcoholics. 9. Alcoholism a ‘disease’? Medical doctors have now turned liberal towards alcoholics and call alcoholism a disease. 10. Alcohol is detrimental to a person’s health when flying in airplanes as has been recently discovered. So as can be understood, alcohol is a danger to human beings health in all aspects. If alcohol is a disease, then it is the only disease that: 1- Is sold in bottles! 2- Is advertised in newspapers, magazines, on radio and television! 3- Has licensed outlets to spread it! 4- Produces revenue for the government! 5- Brings violent deaths on the highways! 6- Destroys family life and increases crime! 7- Has no germs or viral cause! Alcoholism Is Not A Disease – It Is Satan’s Handiwork Islam is called the “Deen-ul-Fitrah” or the natural religion of man. All its injunctions are aimed at preserving the natural state of man. Alcohol is a deviation from this natural state, for the individual as well as for society. It degrades man to a level below that of the beasts he claims to be superior to. Hence the consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Islam. It was reported on Al-Jazeerah English Service News on the 16/6/2007 at 10.40 GMT: “43% of Russian men die at about 59 years of age due to excessive drinking”. That is nearly half of the population of men in Russia die disgracefully due to drinking this poison. In the fairly recent scientific study undertaken by Dr. ROD JACKSON, from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, published in the respected Medical Journal, The Lancet states: ‘Any benefit from light to moderate drinking is probably very small and unlikely to outweigh the harm caused by alcohol. Alcohol abuse harms almost every organ in the body, causing problems such as cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, stomach bleeding, high blood pressure, stroke, nerve damage, osteoporosis and dementia. (W/End Argus- 3 /12 / 2005) After spending years in research and millions of dollars, Dr. Jackson reached the conclusion of what ALLAH has informed humankind in the Glorious Qur’ân through his last and final messenger, Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) 1,400 years ago. In his book titled ‘The Trouble with Medicine’ Dr. Melvin Konner (published by the B.B.C. in London) states the following comment by Dr. Paul Oursler who is a senior resident doctor: “Unfortunately, a lot of what we do here has to do with people who have had a problem with alcoholism, drug abuse, smoking… We spend huge resources in order to take care of the acute problem, and yet we are pulling those resources away from Preventative Measures Which Would Really Work”. In the 2 pm news, 5 September on Radio 567, it was reported that the Western Cape has the highest rate of Alcohol Foetal Syndrome in the world! Allah has given the believers that preventative measure in just one verse of the Glorious Qur’ân in chap 5 verse 90. “O Ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination – of satan’s handiwork; eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper”. Chapter 4 verse 1. “O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single being, created, of like nature, his mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women; - reverence Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (that bore you): for Allah ever watches over you.” Chapter 46 verse 15. “We (i.e. Allâh) have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years, he says, "O My Lord! grant me that I may be grateful for Thy favour which Thou has bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as Thou mayest approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow (to thee) in Islam (submission)." __________________________________. ALL MANKIND ARE SIMILAR Al-Qur’an: chapter 49 Verse 13: “O mankind! We (i.e., Allâh) (God) created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allâh (God) is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allâh (God) has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things.)” Mankind was one nation and over the ages through migration we became different nations. Yet we are the same and we share the same earth, and needs and feelings etc. _________________________________________________. Al-Qur’an: Chapter 2 Verse 213: “Mankind was one single nation, and Allâh sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He (i.e. Allâh) (God) sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed; but the People of the Book, after the clear Messages came to them, did not differ among themselves, except through selfish contumacy. Allâh (God) by His Grace Guided the believers to the Truth, concerning that wherein they differed. For Allâh (God) guided whom He (i.e. Allâh) (God)) will to a path that is straight.” _________________________________________________________________. DO NOT THINK OF BEING BETTER THAN OTHERS: Al-Qur’an: chapter 49 Verse 11: “O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter are better than the (former): nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after one has believed: And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.” _______________________________________. ATTORNEY: MR. ARCHIE AUGUSTINE FROM ESTCOURT, K.Z. NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA “Despite your religious or non-religious attitudes, the Holy Qur’ân is a boon to your intellectual and moral strength. Even if you are not concerned with moral issues, then pamper your intellectual curiosity and read the Qur’ân. The greater the level of your education, in any field, or the greater your social or political standing in your community, the more reason why you should procure your own copy of the Book and begin to read it”. “Nothing, but nothing, is left ambiguous or unanswered. It is a Book of Law interwoven in morality till it touches every facet of the human experience. It includes politics, economics, moral behaviour, personal cleanliness and propriety, inter-family relationships, bequests and inheritance, inter-religious respect and tolerance, charity, the sin of taking and of giving commercial interest, the importance of prayer, the belief in ONE GOD, religious-sociology and oneness of humankind. Bring any manner or word, concept or subject matter to mind and you will find, not only a reference to such a matter, but a treatise, succinctly and poignantly illustrating, advising, illuminating and directing”. Imam Ghazzali in his book “The Revival of the Religious Sciences” Vol 1, states: “Allâh has got no length and breadth as these are attributes of a body which is an originated thing. Its Creator existed from before it. So how would Allâh enter in a body, as Allâh existed by Himself before all originated things and there was nobody along with Him? Allâh is an All Knowing, Almighty, Willing Creator. These attributes are impossible for a body. Allâh exists by Himself without the substances of a body. Allâh is not like any worldly thing, rather He is ever living, ever-lasting, and nothing is like Him. Where is the similarity of the Creator with the created, the Fashioner with the fashioned? Hence it is impossible that anything can ever resemble Him.” ALLÂH IS OUTSIDE OF HIS CREATION! Western Critics Western critics of the Qur’ân frequently point to the allegedly “incoherent” references to Allâh - often in one and the same phrase - as “He”, “Allâh”, “We” or “I”, with the corresponding changes of the pronoun from “His” to “Ours” or “My”, or from “Him” to “Us” or “Me”. They seem to be unaware of the fact that these changes are not accidental, and not even what one might describe as “poetic licence”, but are obviously deliberate, a linguistic device meant to stress the idea that Allâh is not a “person” and cannot, therefore, be really circumscribed by the pronouns applicable to finite beings.